Blow to INDIA bloc; AAP to go it alone in Punjab, UT: Kejriwal

Harshraj Singh

Ludhiana, February 10

AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal today announced in Khanna that his party would contest all seats in Punjab and Chandigarh in the coming Lok Sabha elections. The announcement came a day before a Congress workers’ convention at Samrala, which will be addressed by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge.

Kejriwal’s declaration to contest all 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab and one seat in Chandigarh is being viewed as a direct challenge and blow to the INDIA bloc.

Addressing a gathering during the launch of the “Ghar Ghar Muft Ration” scheme in Khanna, Kejriwal said the Lok Sabha elections would be held in the next two months and they would contest all seats in Punjab and the lone seat in Chandigarh.

Kejriwal thanked people for supporting AAP, which had led to the party’s victory in 92 of the 117 seats in the Assembly elections two years ago. He sought their blessings once again. He said AAP would announce its candidates for all 13 seats in Punjab and one in Chandigarh within 15 days.

CM Bhagwant Mann claimed Punjab would win all 13 seats in the state. He alleged that the Central Government had adopted a hostile attitude toward all non-BJP-ruled states.